Space, Time, and Gravity: The Theory of the Big Bang and Black Holes

by Robert M. Wald

Writing for the general reader or student, Wald has completely revised and updated this highly regarded work to include recent developments in black hole physics and cosmology. Nature called the first edition "a very readable and accurate account of modern relativity physics for the layman within the unavoidable constraint of almost no mathematics. . . . A well written, entertaining and authoritative book."

Genres: Physics, Science, Nonfiction

164 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Michael M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent exposition of the fundamentals of Relativity. Always readable (read it twice so far), and I very much enjoy the philoso-mathematical argumentation.

[Danny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book in a bored-stiff, abroad time in my life. Working for the summer across the country, my only means of feeling whole is reading.
This book is rather interesting. The concepts throughout the chapters are, however, dependent on previous exposure. So, do not make this book an introductory by any means. A groolinly difficult read that exploits previous points by number and section, not concept. So you must refer back or think really hard. Originally a set of lectures by the same author, I think these points would be much better hit if told through word of mouth, not paper. In the preface the author explores his struggles to bringing these concepts into laymans terms: a feat i feel was wildly unsuccessful.

[Spaghettitoes]

I was reading this for story reference, not only was it the wrong subject but my patience/attention does not bear with learning relativity on the bus. There were many periods of stopping and looking out into space as I tried to visualise the concepts discussed. Trying to create a two-dimensional representation of events in a four-dimensional world was particularly challenging. Hopefully I will be up to really grasping relativity etc soon.
Also, "Relativity etc" should be the title of this book.

[m · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as his colleague Robert Geroch's "General Relativity From A to B."

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much clearer than the class I'm taking on the same topic! (I suspect, however, that at this point it's a bit out of date.)

[Lulu]

General relativity — to get intuition for the subject before tackling the details